Plotters, Pantsers, and Plansters
Let’s take a peek at the cogs inside the machine and talk about why I write and how I write on Behind the Scenes Sunday! Today I’d like to talk about three different “types” of writers: plotters, pantsers, and plansters.
- Plotters are those writers who are meticulous outline makers. They have a page long backstory (at least) for each of their characters, no matter how minor, and they know each beat of the story before word has touched paper. They wouldn’t know how to write any other way.
I don’t think these writers exist.
- Pantsers are those writers who “fly by the seat of their pants” and leave everything in their story to chance. The story progresses as the characters and situations demand and a pantser never knows the beginning, middle, or end of any book they’ve written before it’s written. They wouldn’t know how to write any other way.
I don’t think these writers exist.
- Plansters are the writers in between the two extremes above. Plansters plan what they can but are not afraid to improvise. They listen to their characters and understand that a story is a living, breathing thing that shifts and changes as it is created and often goes in directions we as writers could never predict. Conversely, they also understand that a story has to have certain elements and take steps to ensure that things like conflict, rising action, climax, etc. are always baked in from the get go.
I think all writers are Plansters. Some may plan more thoroughly than others, others may choose to let the story run wild a little longer than others, but I think, in our heart of hearts, all writers come to appreciate the value of planning and the value of improvisation in equal measure.
If you’re interested in consuming the work of a self-proclaimed planster, then I’ve got great news for you: my brand new paranormal romance, Hungry is the Night, is now available for preorder on all major ebook platforms! Visit the link here to order your copy in advance and, if you send a copy of your receipt to rsjromance@gmail.com, I will send you back an exclusive excerpt of the book! Three full chapters of wolfy goodness for you to enjoy!